PRESS RELEASE

AFLD STRENGTHENS ITS ANTI-DOPING OPERATIONS THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF ITA’S PASS AND COMPASS SYSTEMS 

Agence Française de Lutte contre le Dopage (AFLD) has selected the International Testing Agency’s (ITA’s) digital PASS and ComPASS systems, which will be deployed to support its anti-doping operations, marking a significant step forward in the efficiency, security and digitalisation of its processes. 

Following a public tender to acquire anti-doping program management software, AFLD has selected ITA’s PASS and Compass solutions. PASS and ComPASS are advanced digital platforms developed by the ITA to support the efficient planning, execution, and management of anti-doping activities. Reflecting the continued growth and increasing complexity of its operations, AFLD required a single, secure global management system covering all aspects of its activities, including test distribution planning, athlete and whereabouts management, sample and results management, and compliance monitoring. 

PASS enables the comprehensive, end-to-end management of anti-doping programs, connecting core operational components such as test distribution planning, athlete and whereabouts management, sample and results management, and compliance monitoring. It also supports key administrative and operational functions, including DCO management and assignments, event and out-of-competition test planning, integration with ADAMS, and the generation of operational and analytical reports, allowing for the coordination of complex anti-doping activities within a single, secure environment. 

ComPASS is designed for athletes and doping control officers, facilitating a fast, efficient, and secure digital sample collection process in the field. It supports the full doping control workflow, from mission setup and athlete notification to the digital completion of doping control forms, chain of custody documentation, and reporting. The platform also enables real-time data capture and secure access to documentation, contributing to a more streamlined, paperless, and reliable sample collection process. 

Their implementation by AFLD represents a significant step forward in enhancing the efficiency, security, and digitalisation of its anti-doping processes. It also marks a decisive step in the promotion of synergies between national and international-level anti-doping operations as the ITA and AFLD will be sharing testing and other anti-doping information directly through the PASS system. 

Both organisations are currently working on the onboarding of AFLD’s staff and data to the systems, which are scheduled to be fully deployed in 2027. This transition phase will ensure a smooth integration of the platforms into AFLD’s operational environment.  By adopting these systems, AFLD reinforces its commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in the protection of clean sport. The integration of PASS and ComPASS will streamline operational workflows, strengthen data security, and optimise the management of testing and results processes. 

The implementation of these tools will further enhance AFLD’s ability to manage its anti-doping activities in the coming years leading up to the 2030 Games Winter Olympic Games which will take place in the French Alps. 

Benjamin Cohen, Director General of the ITA, said: 
“PASS and ComPASS were developed by the ITA out of a clear operational necessity — to manage a high volume of activities and sensitive data efficiently while ensuring that all components of an anti-doping program are seamlessly and securely connected. What started as an internal solution to support our own operations has evolved into a robust and proven platform that we are now pleased to share with other anti-doping organisations who face similar challenges as us. We are convinced of the unique benefits that PASS and ComPASS provide insofar as these solutions were built by anti-doping practitioners for anti-doping practitioners. We are particularly excited to team up with the AFLD on this project and to witness along the way how transformative and beneficial these systems will be for the AFLD and the fight against doping in France.” 

Beatrice Bourgeois, President of AFLD, said : 
“The implementation of ITA’s PASS and ComPASS Systems will support the development of AFLD trough better experience for athletes, ease of use for doping control officers and more collaborative data sharing with guarantees of traceability and security. It’s a long-term commitment that will require a step-by-step approach, humility and patience.”  

The ITA continues to develop and provide independent, international anti-doping expertise and solutions to organisations worldwide, supporting the effective implementation of robust and credible anti-doping programs in full compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and its International Standards. 

About the ITA

The International Testing Agency (ITA) is an international organisation constituted as a not-for-profit foundation, based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Its mission is to manage anti-doping programs, independent from sporting or political powers, for International Federations (IFs), Major Event Organisers (MEOs) and all other anti-doping organisations requesting support.